A cheque to the value of R272 000 was handed over to Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Vice Chancellor at Rhodes University on behalf of the South African Breweries (SAB) by Corporate Affairs Manager, Zukiswa Gaqavu and Corporate Affairs Specialist, Pumlani Njobe as a donation in support of the Assumption Development Centre (ADC).
A cheque to the value of R272 000 was handed over to Dr Sizwe Mabizela, Vice Chancellor at Rhodes University on behalf of the South African Breweries (SAB) by Corporate Affairs Manager, Zukiswa Gaqavu and Corporate Affairs Specialist, Pumlani Njobe as a donation in support of the Assumption Development Centre (ADC).
With a bold vision to refashion Grahamstown’s economy in order to address the serious challenges of unemployment and the limited opportunities that face nearly two-thirds of the town’s population the ADC is an innovative partnership that looks to unlock people-driven economic change.
With the support of responsible corporate citizens such as SAB, the ADC draws on the resources of a number of experienced development partners, networks and agencies, including; Rhodes University’s Commerce Faculty, the Assumption Sisters, and various “blue Chip” NGOs such as the Ubunye Foundation, Gadra Education, and St Mary’s DCC.
The ADC’s model presents a new approach to growing the economy in order to unlock different markets and to create new employment opportunities within Grahamstown.
They seek to identify, train, and place motivated youth into meaningful work opportunities or prepare them to start their own business with the practical objective of helping at least 100 youth in Grahamstown find their first job and gain valuable work experience this year.
SAB’s donation has been earmarked for the Thabiso Life Skills Programme which the ADC is overseeing in the region. This programme has been developed by the Salesian Institute and places budding entrepreneurs in a three week intensive training course, followed with four months of mentoring and on-site work placements.
Part of the donation will be invested in two existing, informal businesses so that they can be developed as options for on-site work placements for participants in the Thabiso Life Skills Programme.
“SAB has highlighted three areas of co-operation that underpin our social investment and activity, and they are rural, enterprise and human capital development,” said Gaqavu.
”We recognise the important work that the ADC has tasked themselves with, especially in an area like Grahamstown which is sadly suffering with a higher unemployment rate than the Eastern Cape average, and we feel privileged to support a such an important initiative that is so closely aligned with our own social investment objectives.”
